Rent-a-Textbook program begins at Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges

EL CAJON (Press Release) – Students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges trying to save money on their textbooks have a new option at the campus bookstores: they can rent the books at less than half the price of a new one.

About 40 percent of the books available at the two East County college bookstores are available for rental at a cost of about 45 percent of a new book. Students also already have the option of buying or renting an e-book.

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board and Barnes & Noble College Booksellers jointly decided to offer the textbook rental program.

“Textbook rentals are another way we can help our students save money as they face the rising fees and costs of attending college,” Governing Board President Bill Garrett said.

Students can rent the books in the store or over the store’s website at www.whywaitforbooks.com. The rental period is for the duration of the semester, and rented textbooks can be converted to a purchase within the first two weeks of class. Students will receive courtesy e-mails as the end of the semester approaches reminding them to return the books, and those not returned or returned in an unusable condition will be subject to replacement fees.

Michael Gilchrist, bookstore manager for Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, said the titles selected for rental are based on the likelihood that they will be used again in future courses.

The textbook rentals have been a popular choice for students. More than 90 percent of those who rented books on other campuses said they would rent books again.